Chapter 506: A Son Falls Short of His Father—The Fourth Miss of the Second Courtyard!

After much winding and detour, you finally stepped into the deep inner courtyard.

Along the way, maids and servants kept casting curious glances at you, for you came alone, without attendants, dressed in plain fabric.

Yet your appearance and bearing were outstanding, even rivaling the young masters within the courtyard.

At the courtyard gate, you were halted by a steward. His eyes flickered with surprise.

"I am Xie Guan of the Great Courtyard, here to pay respects to my mother," you announced calmly.

The steward immediately compared your name with the guest list given by the Lady, but found no trace of "Xie Guan."

He muttered inwardly: When had a young master named Xie Guan appeared in the Great Courtyard? And he brought not a single servant. As his doubts mounted, someone leaned close and whispered a few words into his ear.

The steward's expression slowly shifted from faint respect to cold indifference. This was that neglected young master—the one who had offended Lady Yuan.

Today's matter was of great importance; letting you in recklessly would only bring unnecessary trouble. He was merely a bastard son—what did it matter if he was offended?

Just as he prepared to refuse, a clear voice rang out, tinged with delight:

"I didn't expect it to be Young Master Guan!"

The steward turned to see two women walking slowly along the winding path behind the pavilion, followed by four or five servants.

The steward bowed quickly and respectfully called out: "Miss Yue!"

You turned toward the voice and recognized one of them: Xie Yuan's fourth cousin, Zhang Yuzhi.

She was in the prime of her sixteen years, her figure graceful and elegant, wearing crimson lamb-skin boots embroidered with golden clouds, draped in a red gauze cloak shaped like a crane and lined with white fox fur, and cinched at the waist with a green-gold double-ring Ruyi sash.

Unlike usual, today she carried a brass warming brazier in her hand.

You smiled and greeted: "Miss Zhang!"

Zhang Yuzhi's face lit up with a smile.

These past days, since returning from the courtyard, she had been pondering the wager between Xie Yuan and Xie Guan regarding the demons of Jiannan.

The more she reflected on Xie Guan's analysis, the more reasonable it seemed. Thus, she had spent days buried in scrolls, meticulously sketching a map of the western terrain.

This method was no idle speculation—it had solid grounds.

Though no word had yet reached the imperial court, she firmly believed the outcome would unfold as predicted.

Yesterday, struck by intuition, she wrote a letter detailing Xie Guan's analysis and sent it to her father, busy in Jiannan.

She had intended to seek counsel from that diligent young scholar in the courtyard these days, but Xie Yuan had been confined to his quarters.

As an outsider residing in the household, she knew well that appearing publicly violated propriety.

Yet she never imagined she would meet Xie Guan here!

The other woman, holding Zhang Yuzhi's arm, merely lifted her eyes slightly and glanced at you casually.

This was Xie Qiyue, the only daughter of Xie Hong—the most favored among all the children.

Of all Xie Hong's children, only she was permitted to serve him in his quarters when he returned home each year.

The others: his eldest son served in the army; his second son was a bookish scholar; his third son was Xie Renfeng.

She wore a red embroidered jacket, her frame slightly petite, shorter than Zhang Yuzhi. On her wrist was a consecrated green jade bracelet; around her neck hung a silver longevity lock identical to Xie Yuan's.

Her hair was braided into two pigtails, her features lovely and charming, though now her eyes betrayed a hint of impatience.

Xie Qiyue made as if to leave, pulling Zhang Yuzhi's hand: "Zhi-jie, Father has finally returned—we must hurry."

Zhang Yuzhi gently pressed her hand and smiled: "No need to rush, Qiyue. If you go now, Madam Zhao will be there. You know her temper—Father will dote on you, but if you slight your third brother, won't you provoke her unnecessarily?"

"Better to wait outside the Grand View Garden—showing filial piety while sparing them both face."

Zhang Yuzhi continued, "Besides, didn't you hear the steward? Another woman came with him!"

Xie Qiyue tilted her head, thought for a moment, then nodded in agreement.

She and Zhang Yuzhi were cousins; Xie Yuan's mother came from the Zhuge family.

Xie Qiyue's mother also came from the Zhuge family, but from a collateral branch.

Madam Zhao, the mistress of the Second Courtyard, treated her well on the surface, but every time she returned from serving in Father's room, Madam Zhao's gaze cut like knives.

Since Father's return, he had remained locked in his Spring-Autumn Courtyard, refusing all visitors.

Even Madam Zhao could not step inside, save for the Old Lady. Xie Qiyue felt helpless, yet had seen Madam Zhao weeping alone by the window.

Father may seem cold in some ways, but raised under his influence, Xie Qiyue adored him utterly, never harboring the slightest resentment.

Her brothers, too, revered him deeply. The eldest feared failing in his studies and tarnishing Father's name, so he joined the army; the second studied relentlessly, determined to bring him glory; even the ever-arrogant third brother dared not speak freely before him.

Perhaps it was because Father had been so extraordinary in his youth—a mountain looming over every child in the Second Courtyard.

Father was the youngest in the Great Qi to ignite the "Divine Flame," a True Soul cultivator; as a youth, he was recommended by the Second Master to the Academy and ascended to the sixth floor in a single day.

He topped both provincial and metropolitan examinations; had he not been handsome enough for the Emperor to personally name him Third Place Laureate, he would have been Top Rank, riding through Bianjing and captivating every woman in the city.

When dispatched to the Great Sui, he was escorted by celestial cranes and a princess.

The great scholar's words—"Bianjing in the Great Qi cannot contain one-third of Xie Hong's talent"—spread across the land and became legendary.

Su Xiang visited the Xie Mansion repeatedly, thrice inviting Xie Hong to serve in office, and even became a lifelong friend of the Third Master.

His towering status made all his children feel distant, able only to gaze up in awe.

From childhood, whether among family elders like the Old Lady or childhood companions from prominent clans, Father's name was always present—they lived beneath his shadow.

A son need not resemble his father; blue need not come from indigo.

Yet Father's years of coldness had left the Second Courtyard holding its breath.

Xie Qiyue secretly hoped Father would stay longer this time.

She had no such burdens—she was a girl; as long as she followed propriety and did not tarnish Father's name, that was enough.

No matter how great one's learning or talent, a woman must marry; and Father doted on her especially.

Now, the two women stood at the courtyard gate, all servants lowering their heads in caution.

Zhang Yuzhi turned and asked: "Young Master Guan, will you enter the Grand View Garden?"

Xie Qiyue also turned her gaze toward this stranger, the young master of the Great Courtyard.

Xie Guan?

Her eyes suddenly brightened, and she blurted out: "Are you the illegitimate son of the West Courtyard's uncle? My sixth brother always loses miserably when playing Go with you!"

"Sixth brother keeps muttering that you were touched by a celestial being—I think it was his brain that got squeezed!"

Zhang Yuzhi frowned at the word "illegitimate" and tugged at Xie Qiyue's sleeve.

She had interacted with Xie Guan several times—he carried inner dignity; he was no boy to be trifled with.

Xie Qiyue realized her slip but paid it no mind.

Seeing Xie Guan's unshaken composure, Zhang Yuzhi recalled that since meeting him, he had always been this way.

Zhang Yuzhi's face turned icy, her tone unusually stern: "Qiyue, Young Master Guan is your clan elder and my friend. You will not be disrespectful."

Xie Qiyue froze, her eyes flashing defiance, but seeing Zhang Yuzhi's rare severity, she said nothing, only pouted.

You bowed slightly: "I do wish to enter the Grand View Garden, but I am lowly and powerless, unable to sway others. I humbly ask Miss Zhang for assistance."

Your frankness startled Zhang Yuzhi; your expression was calm, devoid of resentment or pleading.

Xie Qiyue smirked: "Xie Guan, you're shamelessly bold!"

"Xie Qiyue!" Zhang Yuzhi snapped, her voice edged with anger.

Xie Qiyue shrank back at Zhang Yuzhi's outburst.

"Xie Qiyue, if you persist like this, I will no longer speak to you—and I'll make Xie Yuan cut ties with you too. Young Master Guan is Xie Yuan's friend."

"From now on, you'll never taste the peach wine from Shufang Studio or the bite-sized pastries from Shixiang Restaurant again."

Both were the most famous pastry shops in Bianjing—and both belonged to the Zhang family.

Xie Qiyue clasped her hands together, nodding frantically: "Zhi-jie, I'm wrong, truly wrong!"

She grabbed her cousin's hand, pouting: "Zhi-jie, I'm sorry—please forgive me, be magnanimous!"

Zhang Yuzhi sighed; she was helpless against this little sister's temperament, yet knew her heart was not bad—she was much like Xie Yuan.

She turned to the steward and spoke gently: "Young Master Guan only wishes to enter the Grand View Garden to pay respects to Lady Yuan. Please grant him passage."

The steward looked troubled: "Miss Zhang, today's banquet is grand—you know the guest list for the young masters and ladies is strictly limited."

Xie Qiyue grew impatient: "When my fourth cousin comes to the Xie Mansion, the Old Lady herself greets her. How dare you deny her face? Besides, today's honored guest, Master Jingyue, is my fourth cousin's uncle—what harm in bringing one extra guest? Are we not part of the Xie family?"

The steward grew even more uneasy, hesitant to allow entry.

"But Lady Yuan specifically instructed…" he whispered, his expression filled with dread.

Zhang Yuzhi understood: Lady Yuan wielded immense power in the mansion; neither Lord Xie Ling nor Lord Xie Hong was home. After all, this was the Dingyuan Marquis's estate, and the heir was Lady Yuan's eldest son.

These stewards dared not offend Lady Yuan, fearing her retribution.

Xie Qiyue coldly declared: "Fine. You dare defy us? When Father returns, I will report this—how dare household servants bully the Xie bloodline?"

At these words, the steward turned pale, dared not protest, and immediately knelt, bowing his head, voice trembling as if on the verge of tears:

"Auntie, don't humiliate your humble servant—I cannot bear it!"

All the servants exchanged glances, trembling, and dropped to their knees.

Under Great Qi's Confucian order, filial piety was the foremost virtue; elders held absolute authority over their descendants.

An official who was unfilial would be dismissed and sent home; a scholar who was unfilial would be expelled from the Academy.

Disobeying one's parents in the Great Qi was a moral failure—there would be no place to stand.

In the Xie Mansion, if a servant gained a reputation for oppressing a master, death was the only path.

Executing a servant to uphold family discipline would be praised as virtue.

If Xie Qiyue mentioned this to Lord Xie Hong today, regardless of the truth, no further reaction from him would be needed.

Lady Yuan would flay him alive!

Xie Qiyue let out a cold snort.

Xie Guan stepped forward and helped the steward up: "This is entirely my doing—I entered alone. If the mistresses blame anyone, let it fall on me alone."

【"I'm only looking for someone—I won't cause trouble!"】

【Zhang Yuzhi also said: "Young Master Guan is a man of propriety; he won't stir up trouble. Manager, rest assured."】

【The manager dared not block him further, stepped aside to let Xie Guan pass, and even sent a servant to guide him—the Hongjing Courtyard lay ahead, requiring passage across the Mother Lake by boat.】

【As Xie Guan took his leave, he said to Xie Qiyue:】

【"Thank you, Miss Zhang, and Qiyue sister!"】

【Xie Qiyue watched Xie Guan's retreating back, stunned silent.】

【She realized belatedly: "Who… who's his sister? Say that again clearly."】

【For some reason, she felt Xie Guan was utterly unlike the neglected bastard sons she knew in the Xie Fu—his tone just now carried the weight of an elder's.】

【Xie Yuan had never addressed her that way.】

【Zhang Yuzhi gazed at Xie Guan's departing figure, silently worried.】

【A bastard the Xie family didn't care about, with no backing or support—today's Grand View Garden was filled with nobility; could he handle himself?】

【Though she didn't understand why Xie Guan entered the Grand View Garden, she knew he was no sycophant seeking favor—just getting in had been this hard; what awaited inside was unimaginable.】

【Once inside, he'd face nothing but scorn!】

【She recalled the lines he had written: "A youth trusts his cloud-piercing brush, not the titles of ten Battalion Commander." Her heart grew heavier with sorrow.】

【Xie Qiyue watched her cousin, staring long after Xie Guan's back had vanished.】

【She tilted her head: "Zhi sister, do you have some secret in Xie Guan's hands?"】

【"Just tell me, Zhi sister—I still have some say in the Xie Fu. I'll go demand it back; he won't dare refuse."】

【Zhang Yuzhi tapped her head and said sternly: "Your Ninth Brother Guan is now a neglected young master, trapped in a small courtyard."】

【"He is by no means a weakling you can trample on."】

【"Never look down on a poor youth!"】

(End of Chapter)